Volume 1 - No. 1 - March 2004

In This Issue...

A Word from the New Director

Human Remains Repatriation

Thank you Note

Service from the Tribal Council

March/April Calendar

Kitcisakik’s Turtle Concept

News from the Communities

Learn About NACC

A Word from the New Director

Kwey, Hello, Bonjour

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and welcome you to the first edition of our latest newsletter.

My name is Norm Odjick of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg and I was hired in February as the Director General of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council. Prior to my accepting this position I served three years as the Assistant Community Services Director for Kitigan Zibi. I am currently serving a one year term as Chair of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Police Services Council, and I am the Quebec Representative for the Solicitor General’s Police Governance Authorities’ Steering Committee.

I am fortunate to join a highly skilled and professional staff at the Tribal Council. I thank them for making me feeling welcome during these first few weeks. I would like to wish our former director Lise Kistabish the best of luck in her new position as Director General of her community, Pikogan. I look forward to the new challenges associated with this position and also to visiting the communities, many of which for the first time.

Since I began working with the Tribal Council I have been asked numerous times what exactly we do, and what services we provide. This newsletter is a part of our communication strategy aimed at increasing our profile and keeping our member communities better informed of our activities. In the very near future we will be updating our website www.anishinabenation.ca so that you can learn more about our office and the communities as well. We also hope to foster the sharing of information between the communities in print, on-line and hopefully in person.

If you have any information that you think should be included in our newsletter feel free to contact our information officer Jaelle Deslauriers. This newsletter is the result of her hard work and I am sure with your input we can keep our newsletter relevant and interesting.

Migwetch
Norm Odjick

Human Remains Repatriation

Community Project

Our communities are involved in numerous projects and tremendous achievements. In each issue of the newsletter, we want to highlight one of those projects. Therefore, we invite you to contact us to submit ideas for future editions of our newsletter. We are starting this month by writing about a project that represents a lot to all the member communities: “The Repatriation of the Ancestral Algonquins human remains and funerary objects from the Canadian Museum of Civilization”.

Some three years ago, Mr. Gilbert Whiteduck, Director of Education for the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, was given the responsibility to take a leadership role in an archeological dig located at Lac Leamy (Kabeshinan) on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec. During the first year of the archeological work, which involved the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC), Mr. Whiteduck learned that ancestral Algonquin human remains and funerary objects were held in storage at the CMC. These human remains came from some eleven sites along and on the Ottawa River, including Morrison and Alumette Islands. The human remains and funerary objects had been collected by amateur archaeologists or farmers and given to the CMC. The Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg was subsequently informed and a group of elders and community members came to the Canadian Museum of Civilization to visit the human remains. The moment the cabinets were opened for viewing, Mr. Whiteduck and all present agreed that the human remains and funerary objects had to be returned to Mother Earth.

The Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community, with the endorsement of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council, held a press conference in January 2003, in which it formally requested the return of all human remains and funerary objects by no later than June 2005. Mr. Whiteduck was given the mandate to take the lead role on the file and work on the repatriation began. This work included securing funding from Heritage Canada to undertake the necessary work as well as the initiation of discussions with the Museum. Mr. Rene Tenasco was hired to assist Mr. Whiteduck with the various meetings as well as with the initial research.

In follow-up to the confirmation of funding, a Repatriation Initiative Team was established. The team consists of Brenda Odjick, coordinator; Janet Brascoupe, Researcher; and Theresa Mitchell, secretary/ Administrative support.
The Repatriation Initiative Team are to meet with the Algonquin communities and solicit their input in regards to the repatriation. Following a visit to dialogue with Algonquin community members, the team will initiate a second round of visits to validate and clarify the findings of the first round of dialogues. A report will be subsequently produced and resubmitted to the communities for a third round of input.The meetings with the CMC will continue during this period in order to ensure the required administrative issues are being addressed.

There are several more steps to be completed before the goal of repatriation can be archived. This is nevertheless achievable as the motto of the Repatriation Initiative Team is «is not an option». The Algonquin ancestral human remains and funerary objects must be returned to the Algonquin Nation so that the spirits of the Algonquin ancestors can find final peace. The final outcome will certainly be the reclaiming of Algonquin Nation’s connection to the ancestors who have lived on this land since time immemorial.

For further information, please contact: Ms. Brenda Odjick at 819-449-5449 or Mr. Gilbert Whiteduck at 819-449-1798

Thank you Note

I wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the member communities of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council. The fact that you gave me the opportunity to be your General Director for almost two years and the support you showed me while I was in office allowed me to better appreciate my Nation.

Kitci Migwetch

Lise Kistabish
Pikogan

Lise Kistabish

Service offered by the Tribal Council

To allow you to better know the services offered by the Tribal Council, we will use this section to present an employee of the AANTC and describe the services he offers. We are starting by introducing our Architectural Technician, Mr. René Boulet.

René started his technical education in 1984 at the Saint-Laurent CEGEP and obtained his diploma in 1987. He worked for two architectural offices in Montreal while completing his college degree in pure and applied science. He worked for 10 years in the execution of designs as well as overseeing work for different commercial, industrial and institutional projects in the Montreal region. He was hired by the Tribal Council to fill the position of Architectural Technician.

René, who works more closely with the communities of Abitibiwinni, Lac Simon and Kitcisakik offers the following services:

He develops execution plans for residential projects and conceptual plans for institutional and commercial projects (See picture at the bottom).

He also develops construction specifications and call for tender documents. Finally, he performs site inspections and follow-ups on construction projects and provides cost estimates.

You can reach René at 819-449-1225 or by email at: reneb@anishinabenation.ca

Architectural plan of a Building

March/April Calendar

March 9th, 10th and 11th:

First Nations and Harmonisation Measures in the Forest Environment (Essipit: 418-843-9999)

April 4th:

National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (Calgary: 1-800-329-9780)

April 20th & 21st:

Aboriginal Science Fair (Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg: 819-449-1798)

Kitcisakik Turtle Concept

Last summer, the community of Kitcisakik and the world-renowned architect Douglas Cardinal went through a planning and vision exercise during an intensive four days discussion. The goal of the exercise was for the community members and families to share with Mr. Cardinal their vision and expectations of what they wanted their village to look like. That exercise involved all members of the community and allowed them to voice their opinion on the final choice of location and concept of the village. Following these discussions, Mr. Cardinal came up with the design of a building in the shape of a turtle to be built in the village’s center. All services (band office, health center, community center, etc.) will be located in that building (See picture left) and all the other constructions will then be built around it so that the main building is at a walking distance and easily accessible to all community members.

News From the Communities

Eagle Village

The community of Eagle Village is in a busy stage while a lot of projects are being developed. Notably, the design and architectural plan for a daycare have been realized and planning to expand community infrastructures (housing lots) will start this year.

Lac Simon

The community of Lac Simon finished the construction of seven social housing units and of five houses belonging to the band.

Long Point

Long Point will be going through a very busy year as the planning phase of a number of projects among others, the health center extension, construction of a new security building housing the police and fire departments, construction of a daycare and also expand the community infrastructures (housing lots). These projects will start in the upcoming months.

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg

Kitigan Zibi will be hosting April 20th and 21st 2004, the Regional Science Fair. The event brings together aboriginal youths from grade 5 to secondary 5, from all over Quebec. It will be the second time for Kitigan Zibi, since the community hosted the first fair four years ago.

Kitigan Zibi will also be involved in road repairs starting this spring.

Abitibiwinni

Abitibiwinni has just finished the construction of three social housing units and is currently planning a covered rink. This project should be happening this year and will be designed in a way that will allow it to be eventually converted into an arena.

Learn About NACC

In this chronic we will present, in each issue, aboriginal organizations or organizations that offer services specifically to First Nations in various fields. We start this month by featuring the

Native Commercial Credit Corporation (NACC)

Established in 1992, NACC is one of 32 Aboriginal Capital Corporation created as part of an Industry Canada's program. Its mission is to «serve as a preferential partner in the economic development of Aboriginal communities through support of entrepreneurship in the following fields: financing, entrepreneurial development, advisory services and management support».

Financing

NACC has for mandate to offer commercial financing for small and medium Native businesses. In that regard any commercial business owned by individuals or organizations belonging to the Abénaki, Algonquin, Huron-Wendat, Micmac, Atikamekw Nations or to the Native Alliance of Québec inc., and who reside in the province of Québec can apply for a loan to : start a business, expand an already existing business or for a short term special assistance. The NACC can provide you with short, medium and long-term financing.

The promoter must invest 10% of total cost of the project. General ceiling per business is $250,000, depending on the capital available at the time the request is made.

Commercial Loans for Young Entrepreneurs

NACC also offers loans specific to young entrepreneurs (35 years old and younger). Just like regular loans, business owners have to be Abénaki, Algonquin, Atikamekw, Huron-Wendat, Micmac or member of Québec Native Alliance to be admissible. It can be a start-up project, expansion or acquisition of an existing business, seasonal or annual operations, full or part-time job creation.

The maximum loan amount is $15,000 and a possibility of a debt cancellation for the last 25% (according to the terms and conditions determined at the signing of the legal documents).

Before submitting the project, the young promoter has to go through certain steps such as assessment of entrepreneurial potential and prepare a business plan.

Submission of a project

In both instances, for a regular loan and a loan for young entrepreneur, the promoter must contact NACC personnel for information about submitting a project. After the required documents have been received, the file will be analyzed and the promoter informed of the decision. If it is positive, then the required documents will be prepared.

Advisory Services

NACC offers coaching and support services to entrepreneurs for their rehabilitation, development or exportation projects.

Consultation Services

The organization also offers consultation services to private, aboriginal or governmental organizations. Its main areas of expertise are development of programs and ideas related to entrepreneurship and financing, analysis of business projects, off-site administrative and financial management services, project management, organization of workshops and special events.

How to contact NACC

NACC personnel can be reach at 418.842.0972 or 1.800.241.0972 or by email at: administration@socca.qc.ca

NACC also has two external offices to better serve its clientele. Mrs Annie Gareau is the Officer responsible for the Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Outaouais et Grand Nord bureau . She can be reach at :

Tel : 819.824.0972

Fax: 819.824.8020

Email:

Agareau@socca.qc.ca